Which is why I never travelled to Africa. During lockdown I discovered a webcam in South Africa. It was focused on a dam, no commentary just bird sound, animal noises and weather. I spent hours watching this with a bird book and animal chart trying to work out my own identifications. I witnessed some amazing animal and bird behaviour. Perfect for someone now too old to travel.
A great read. I liked the contrast between the Maasai who enjoyed the photos that showed the reality, and the entitled tourists who didn't want the myth spoiled. Influencers have made travel even worse; I don't let these things keep me from seeing what I want to see. As a tourist, you can't separate yourself from it: all you can do is not be an entitled jerk about it. Thank you for sharing the ugly reality of things. It seems that many people live in a collective fantasy, like we are all stars of our own reality TV show, and showing the true face of it is important.
Really enjoyed this piece. The only thing left out are the beige 4-wheel drive pickup trucks parked at the gates for those who thought they could drive onto the Serengeti themselves. Big mistake! And the trash in the villages, oh my goodness the trash. No disrespect, I've seen enough water bottles and detritus at US onramps to know better. What a beautiful place and majestic place! The corralling of vehicles around a kill notwithstanding. And I thought I was the only one that took that picture. But still would not have passed that up for the world! And can't wait to back. Did I mention how incredible Ethiopian Airlines is?! Yes...that too.
Which is why I never travelled to Africa. During lockdown I discovered a webcam in South Africa. It was focused on a dam, no commentary just bird sound, animal noises and weather. I spent hours watching this with a bird book and animal chart trying to work out my own identifications. I witnessed some amazing animal and bird behaviour. Perfect for someone now too old to travel.
A great read. I liked the contrast between the Maasai who enjoyed the photos that showed the reality, and the entitled tourists who didn't want the myth spoiled. Influencers have made travel even worse; I don't let these things keep me from seeing what I want to see. As a tourist, you can't separate yourself from it: all you can do is not be an entitled jerk about it. Thank you for sharing the ugly reality of things. It seems that many people live in a collective fantasy, like we are all stars of our own reality TV show, and showing the true face of it is important.
Really enjoyed this piece. The only thing left out are the beige 4-wheel drive pickup trucks parked at the gates for those who thought they could drive onto the Serengeti themselves. Big mistake! And the trash in the villages, oh my goodness the trash. No disrespect, I've seen enough water bottles and detritus at US onramps to know better. What a beautiful place and majestic place! The corralling of vehicles around a kill notwithstanding. And I thought I was the only one that took that picture. But still would not have passed that up for the world! And can't wait to back. Did I mention how incredible Ethiopian Airlines is?! Yes...that too.
Loved reading this